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Current Oncology
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Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology: Optimizing...
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Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology: Optimizing the Integration of Supportive Care into Oncology Care

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychosocial Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 4996

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fredrick D. Ashbury

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Adjunct Professor, Internal Medicine—Medical Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
2. Adjunct Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Interests: psychosocial; behavioural research; cancer; physicians; patients
Dr. Jonathan Avery

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Anew Research Collaborative: Reshaping Young Adult Cancer Care, Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, Canada
2. Department of Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
3. Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: psychosocial oncology; adolescent and young adult; health services research; supportive cancer care
Dr. Jackie Bender

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program, Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Princess Margaret Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: psychosocial oncology; digital health; cancer survivorship; health equity
Dr. Sylvie Lambert

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
2. St. Mary’s Ressearch Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
Interests: psychosocial oncology; digital health; caregivers; patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs); patient-reported experience measures (PREMs); self-management; implementation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Madeline Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
2. Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
3. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: psychosocial oncology; psychoneuroimmunology; screening for distress; medical assistance in dying; depression
Dr. Gilla K. Shapiro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
2. Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Science & Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: psychosocial oncology; decision making; cancer prevention; health equity; health policy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Psychosocial oncology is a discipline concerned with the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, quality-of-life, and practical aspects of cancer. This includes cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, end-of-life care, bereavement, and survivorship. The focus of this discipline is on providing a whole-person care approach while also considering caregivers, communities, providers, services, and system-level factors.

The Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO), established in 1987, aims to foster psychosocial care that optimizes health and healing for every Canadian affected by cancer. CAPO’s research advisory committee oversees the research activities and knowledge translation endeavors of CAPO members to optimize evidence-based psychosocial care, meet the research needs of our members, and support CAPO’s annual conference.

The 2024 conference, taking place in Calgary, Alberta, marks the 39th year that CAPO has brought together a national body of health care professionals, patient advocates/partners, and community stakeholders with the shared goal of supporting patients, families, and loved ones affected by cancer. This year, the CAPO conference theme is “Building hope: Integrating sustainable, innovative, and accessible care in psychosocial oncology”. In cancer care, hope can support individuals in buffering stress, overcoming adversity and burnout, coping with unique challenges, and optimizing health, healing, and growth.

As CAPO heads towards its next decade of advancing psychosocial oncology in Canada, this Current Oncology Special Issue, “Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology- Optimizing Integration of Supportive Care into Oncology Care”, welcomes contributions in clinical, education, health systems, and policy research, including diverse perspectives related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, that will lead psychosocial oncology beyond today’s reality, pointing to a future of optimized integration in oncology care.

Dr. Fredrick D. Ashbury
Dr. Jonathan Avery
Dr. Jackie Bender
Dr. Sylvie Lambert
Dr. Madeline Li
Dr. Gilla K. Shapiro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • psychosocial oncology
  • hope
  • cancer
  • interdisciplinary research
  • Canada
  • CAPO

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1674 KiB  
Article
Developing the Understanding Palliative Care Module: A Quality Improvement Initiative Incorporating Public, Patient, and Family Caregiver Perspectives
by Patricia Biondo, Mary-Ann Shantz, Yuanjie (Bill) Zheng, Miranda Manning and Louise Kashuba
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(4), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32040221 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 420
Abstract
Improving public awareness of palliative care is crucial for improving access to, and uptake of, palliative care, which has demonstrated benefits for patients and health systems. However, there is a lack of engaging, accessible educational palliative care resources designed for public audiences. As [...] Read more.
Improving public awareness of palliative care is crucial for improving access to, and uptake of, palliative care, which has demonstrated benefits for patients and health systems. However, there is a lack of engaging, accessible educational palliative care resources designed for public audiences. As part of a larger quality improvement initiative to strengthen awareness of palliative care, we developed “Understanding Palliative Care”—an innovative, online educational module incorporating best practices for defining and promoting palliative care to a public audience. An expert working group with representation from nursing, medicine, social work, instructional design, and care navigation advised on the development of the module. Incorporating the perspectives of Albertans with lived palliative care experience was deemed essential by the working group. We identified three Albertans (one patient and two family caregivers) of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds who had personally benefitted from palliative care and consented to record virtual interviews. We incorporated multiple interview segments into the module that highlight the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support provided by palliative care. Finally, a panel of thirteen public volunteers provided feedback on the content, design, and navigation of the draft module. The Understanding Palliative Care module fills an important gap in Alberta, providing a free, online, evidence-based, and engaging educational tool to improve public awareness and understanding of palliative care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology: Optimizing the Integration of Supportive Care into Oncology Care)
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10 pages, 224 KiB  
Article
Exploring Healthcare Provider Experiences with the EXCEL Exercise Referral Pathway for Individuals Living with and Beyond Cancer
by Alexandra Finless, Mannat Bansal, Thomas Christensen, S. Nicole Culos-Reed, Colleen A. Cuthbert, Julianna Dreger, Jodi E. Langley and Melanie R. Keats
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(3), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32030181 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 417
Abstract
Exercise is an evidence-based strategy shown to reduce the negative side effects associated with cancer treatment for individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in promoting exercise for these individuals. Notwithstanding, several barriers hinder HCPs’ ability [...] Read more.
Exercise is an evidence-based strategy shown to reduce the negative side effects associated with cancer treatment for individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in promoting exercise for these individuals. Notwithstanding, several barriers hinder HCPs’ ability to discuss and support exercise in clinical practice. EXCEL is an exercise intervention designed to address health disparities in access to exercise oncology resources for rural/remote individuals LWBC, including a referral pathway for HCPs to use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HCP experiences using the EXCEL exercise referral pathway. We employed an interpretive description methodology, using semi-structured interviews to assess HCP experiences with EXCEL. Overall, HCPs felt empowered to refer to exercise when they were supported in doing so. The findings highlighted (1) a need for a better understanding of the role of exercise professionals and their integration into cancer care; (2) the need for efficient referral systems including embedding referrals into existing health care electronic record systems; and (3) sharing patient feedback with exercise oncology programs back to the HCPs to drive continued referrals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology: Optimizing the Integration of Supportive Care into Oncology Care)
15 pages, 570 KiB  
Article
Targeted Transition Readiness Workshops for Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects
by Julie Carrier, Tziona Lugasi, Nathalie Labonté, Carole Provost, Andrea Saragosti, Claire Longpré, Bénédicte Koukoui, Émilie Régnier-Trudeau, Serge Sultan, Hallie Coltin, Sébastien Perreault, Marco Bonanno and Leandra Desjardins
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32010034 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 850
Abstract
Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are at risk for late effects related to their diagnosis and treatment. Long-term medical follow-ups are deemed essential, implying a transition from pediatric to adult healthcare settings. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary [...] Read more.
Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are at risk for late effects related to their diagnosis and treatment. Long-term medical follow-ups are deemed essential, implying a transition from pediatric to adult healthcare settings. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a targeted transition readiness intervention for PBTS. The program consisted of three hybrid workshops that targeted disease-related self-management skills, social skills, and cognitive functioning, as well as parallel workshops for their caregivers. The feasibility and acceptability were assessed through recruitment, retention, and satisfaction rates. Preliminary effects were primarily assessed via a pre/post assessment of transition readiness skills using the Transition Readiness Assessment (TRAQ) questionnaire. Among the eligible dyads, 12 (38%) consented to participate. Ten dyads participated in at least two workshops, and six dyads participated in all workshops. Overall, the participants were satisfied with the intervention (parents = 86%; PBTS = 73%). Although not statistically significant, a clinically relevant post-workshop increase in transition readiness skills was observed for PBTS (d = 0.36) and their caregivers (d = 0.25). The results suggest the relevance of the intervention and encourage further developments. Adjustments are needed to optimize reach and efficacy. The workshops have the potential to be adapted to be more accessible and shorter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology: Optimizing the Integration of Supportive Care into Oncology Care)
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14 pages, 703 KiB  
Article
Two-Step Screening for Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Cancer: A Retrospective Validation Study Using Real-World Data
by Bryan Gascon, Joel Elman, Alyssa Macedo, Yvonne Leung, Gary Rodin and Madeline Li
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(11), 6488-6501; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31110481 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2358
Abstract
Background: Although screening for distress is recommended by many cancer care guidelines, the uptake of such screening in cancer centers remains limited. Improving the acceptability of screening programs in cancer centers requires a reduction in clinical burden and an improved detection of distress. [...] Read more.
Background: Although screening for distress is recommended by many cancer care guidelines, the uptake of such screening in cancer centers remains limited. Improving the acceptability of screening programs in cancer centers requires a reduction in clinical burden and an improved detection of distress. The purpose of this study was to validate the performance of the two-step screening algorithm used in the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) for identifying cases of anxiety and depression. Methods: This retrospective validation study consisted of patients at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) who completed the DART, which includes the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System depression (ESAS-D) and anxiety (ESAS-A) items, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). We evaluated the performance of a two-step screening approach, which modeled the ESAS-D, followed by the PHQ-9 and ESAS-A, then the GAD-7 for predicting a diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. A clinical psychiatric assessment was used as the gold standard reference. Results: A total of 172 patients with cancer were included in this study. A total of 59/172 (34%) and 39/172 (23%) were diagnosed with a depression or anxiety disorder, respectively. The sequential administration of the PHQ-9 ≥15 following the ESAS-D (>2) significantly increased the post-test probability of depression from 37% to 60% and improved the performance of predicting depression compared to both the ESAS-D or the PHQ-9 as standalone tests. The sequential administration of the GAD-7 after the ESAS-A did not improve the predictability of an anxiety diagnosis beyond the performance of the ESAS-A or the GAD-7 as standalone tests. Conclusions: The present study is among the first to demonstrate that a two-step screening algorithm for depression may improve depression screening in cancer using real-world data. Further research on optimal screening approaches for anxiety in cancer is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Hope for the Next Decade of Psychosocial Oncology: Optimizing the Integration of Supportive Care into Oncology Care)
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